1st Birthday Theme: Beach Party

Was your baby born in the summer? Does he or she love to play in the sandbox? Host a beach birthday party! Here are some ideas on how to create a beach-themed party for your child's first birthday.

• Party Details: For a first birthday party, a morning event is generally best for young children. Keep the party short (1-2 hours) and specify the end time clearly on the invitation to avoid any meltdowns. You can find free birthday party invitations and more birthday party planning tips on Punchbowl.

• Decorations: Use items that you already have from your beach trips to decorate for your party. For example, strategically place big, colorful beach umbrellas around your yard for some extra shade for delicate skin. You can also place beach chairs and beach towels in the yard for adults to sit on (the chairs) and the kids to play on (the towels).

• Activities: If you don’t have a large sandbox, lay down a plastic tarp and cover it with bags of play sand. Add fun shovels, sand molds and rakes for instant tot entertainment. Also, make sure to have lots of beach balls ready for action—at least one per child. If the weather is warm, set up sprinklers for the kids to run through.

• Attire: Encourage guests to wear beachwear like boardshorts and bathing suits. For the birthday boy or girl, decorate a floppy sun hat or visor with a big “1” on the front. This will make a great 1st birthday photo as he or she gobbles down his piece of birthday cake.

• Menu: Have a variety of small finger foods such as cheese cubes, crackers, blueberries, peas and pasta served on Frisbees that can be washed and tossed around later. Don't forget something sweet for dessert!

• Favors: Hand paint each child’s name on a sand bucket as a great 1st birthday party favor. Fill it with small sand trucks and shovels. Don’t forget to send guests home with the beach balls and Frisbees too!